Oregon Antelope Outlook

By Tyler Dungannon
08/06/14 -- Antelope face some dry conditions on the range this year in southeast Oregon. When antelope endure drought, they tend to cluster together, which may make hunting difficult. According to ODFW biologists, these clusters can amount up to a few hundred animals. That could mean difficulty finding many herds and a lot of hunters looking over the same crowd of antelope.

Lake County pronghorn, photo by Tyler Dungannon

Despite the challenges, antelope hunts continue to provide the best success rates in the state. Biologists manage antelope for abundant animals and quality hunting. Antelope in desert units have shown that they don’t like to move much, and the antelope that inhabit forested areas should be relatively unaffected by the drought conditions.

Tyler Dungannon (The author) with pronghorn taken in Lake County. Photo by Duane Dungannon

It is crucial that hunters scout their hunt areas for water this year because ODFW biologists believe many traditional water sources will be dry if they aren’t already. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on wildfire that could affect your unit.

ODFW reports horn-growth will not be affected by the summer drought. Antelope horns are already full grown by the time summer comes around, so as long as your unit received some decent green-up last spring, horn size should be good.

Antelope dwelling in desert units won’t leave their turf, ODFW biologists say. Bucks will hang around the same area, so be patient, and the one you’re after will be back. Also, biologists advise hunters to not rush their hunt. The big ones are out there, and some nice bucks should be taken this year.

Tyler Dungannon is an outdoor writer in southern Oregon who has contributed articles and photographs to regional outdoor publications such as Oregon Hunter, Northwest Sportsman and Washington-Oregon Game & Fish.

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